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Brava-assisted autologous fat grafting helps shape unaffected breast during unilateral reconstruction

The use of Brava-assisted autologous fat grafting to aid in unilateral breast reconstruction was effective in shaping the unaffected breast, according to recent study results.

“In cases of unilateral breast reconstruction after cancer surgery, shaping the breast of the unaffected side by fat grafting in conjunction with the Brava system was effective for obtaining symmetrical breasts,” Hirokazu Uda, MD, and colleagues wrote.

Uda and colleagues performed the technique for 12 patients (mean age, 43 years) who were undergoing unilateral breast reconstruction. During each session, a mean volume of 211 cc of fat was grafted. Nine patients completed the fat grafting in one session and three completed the grafting in two sessions.

The researchers used preoperative and postoperative MRI to calculate the mean retention rate of grafted fat. The mean follow-up time from final graft to evaluation was 21 months.

For 10 patients, the mean retention rate of grafted fat was 58.9%. On postoperative MRI, performed at a mean of 14 months after last grafting procedure, two patients had benign cysts. One patient had a benign agglutinate calcification during the annual mammogram performed a mean of 37 months after the last procedure.

Other complications included dermatitis-associated itching in seven patients, pigment changes after dermatitis in three patients and blistering in one patient.

“Although the Brava system has some disadvantages, such as skin complications and the extensive duration of wearing the device, the Brava-assisted fat grafting approach overcomes the limitations of fat grafting to the breast alone, such as unpredictable graft retention, necessity of multiple sessions due to the restriction of grafted fat volume per session and the development of a painful induration after fat necrosis,” Uda and colleagues wrote. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.